Brad Paisley to release book on his musical heroes
Fans of country singer Brad Paisley can now learn about his musical heroes, how he started playing guitar, and the nickname of the backing band of older musicians that he played with when he was eleven. (That would be “Brad Paisley and the Seniles.”)
In his new book due out tomorrow, titled “Diary of a Player: How My Musical Heroes Made a Guitar Man Out of Me,” Paisley lists the rock, country, and blues musicians that have inspired him over the years.
“It's not a book that's meant to say, 'Careful. This is a rough road,' ” Paisley said about the book's message in an interview with the Associated Press. “This is more like, you find that thing, whether it's a guitar or a paint brush or a tape recorder. I don't know what it is. Whatever you're good at milking – a cow – go do that. If you're great at something, all these doors will open.”
In the book, Paisley tells the story of his grandfather, Warren Jarvis, who gave him his first guitar when Paisley was eight, a Danelectro Silvertone that Jarvis ordered from a Sears catalogue. “Diary of a Player” also includes stories about the country star from musicians who know Paisle.
Paisley thanks musician Garth Brooks in the book for making his image a little more rebellious.
“That's what you want. The minute you get one of those adults saying, 'I think he's trouble. He does that song, 'Friends in Low Places,’” he told the AP.
The musician also discusses how he deals with stress in “Diary of a Player.”
“There are some people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, or watch TV, cry, sleep, and so on,” Paisley says in his book about how others cope. “I play.”
The book is co-written with author David Wild, who co-wrote “American Idol” alum Taylor Hicks’ book “Heart Full of Soul” as well as writing his own books on music and television. Wild has also written liner notes essays for many bands and musicians.
Molly Driscoll is a Monitor contributor.
